CAMP CASTAÑEDA, Cavite —President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday vowed to pass a law that would create a trust fund for the families of policemen who were killed while on duty.
Speaking before the Philippine National Police Academy “Masidlak” Class of 2017, Duterte said a “trust fund” amounting to “billions” of pesos will be arranged in the next three to four years for cops killed in the line of duty.
“The government will ensure our policemen that their families will be taken care of. I have also issued directives to provide assistance to the immediate families of your fallen comrades,” he said.
“That is why I will assure you now, I’ll make you the guarantee that I will leave a legislation that will put in trust so many billions. I hope it would be institutionalized, and that is my dream. In about three to four years, that will be in place already,” Duterte said.
The President also assured the unemployed widows of slain policemen that the education of their children will be paid by the government until they graduate from college.
Duterte said his experience while being held hostage of the New People’s Army made him decide to push with the measure.
“I could feel the cold steel on my temples. The first thing that came to my mind was my child, who was still inside my wife’s womb, Sebastian,” said Duterte, referring to the presidential son.
“‘The one who now does nothing but look for women,” he quipped in describing Sebastian, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Duterte jested he wished for his youngest son to join the Philippine Military Academy and get beaten.
Under his proposed fund for slain police, the government will shoulder the tuition of the deceased cop’s children while the spouse will be offered a job in government.